It's not uncommon for children to get lice. Head lice are common in children from three to five years old. If you find head lice on your child, this isn't a reflection of poor hygiene, says the National Institutes of Health. Children get lice from same-aged peers because they're more likely to share hats, caps and brushes, as well as come into close contact with each other during play.
Understanding Lice and Nits
Lice on a child might not be evident until 4 to 6 weeks after the child is infested, according to a September 2002 article in Pediatrics. The first sign is usually an itchy scalp. Infestation begins when a female louse migrates into the hair and lays her eggs, or nits, on the hair shaft next to the scalp. The eggs hatch after 10 to 14 days and turn into adult lice in between 9 to 12 days. They then mate, and the life cycle repeats. Lice are usually gray and between 2 and 3 mm in length. Lice live on human blood, feeding from your child's scalp around every 3 hours.
Prevalance in Children
Between 6 and 12 million infestations of head lice occur every year, states a July 2010 article in Time; however, because lice aren't a reportable disease, there's no way to calculate the number of cases in school-age children. The incidence of head lice in the United States has not declined since the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, released its last report in 2002, despite the stringent "no nits" policies in schools that prohibit children from attending school if nits are found in their hair.
Treatment Options
According to the Pediatrics journal, head lice aren't harmful; only rarely do they cause skin infection. However, lice are uncomfortable and can cause your child embarrassment. The American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, advises treating your child's lice with either over-the-counter or prescription medications. Nonprescription treatments usually contain permethrin or pyrethrin. These medications will kill live lice, but not their eggs. You must manually remove nits with a close-toothed lice comb to prevent reinfestation. Comb your child's hair every 3 days, or more frequently, for 2 weeks or until lice and nits are gone. Call a pediatrician if you see lice or nits on your child's eyelashes and eyebrows or if nonprescription medications don't work.
Preventing Reinfestation
Live lice can live away from a human for a short amount of time, usually around 24 hours. Launder bedding, towels, clothing and caps in hot water to avoid reinfestation, advises the AAFP. Vacuum carpets, rugs, car seats, stuffed animals and upholstered furniture. Educate your child on the importance of not sharing personal items. If your child is sleeping over at a friend's house or going away to summer camp, give him his own pillow and towels.
AAP Position
In July 2010, the AAP updated its 2002 guidelines for head lice treatment, according to Time magazine. The AAP reiterated its position against schools' "no nits" policies, which causes children with head lice to miss too much school. According to the Time article, during the 2009-2010 school year, many school boards did away with "no nits" policies, or revised them to prohibit only children with live lice in their hair from attending school.
